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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 345262" data-attributes="member: 23">Series Two Married LoveI do appreciate the era-appropriate language used in this series. Just as the word “pregnancy” is never uttered in Exiles, neither is the word “sex” used once during Married Love. Yet this is exactly what this episode is about. Through euphemistic discussion between Lawrence and Elizabeth, we learn their relationship hasn’t been consummated, meaning, in Elizabeth’s eyes at least, they aren’t yet married. Typically, the episode unfolds slowly before our eyes, fascinating in the process. The turn of the century restraint is unwilling to tell us exactly what Lawrence’s problem is, leaving us to try and put the pieces together and taking us down trails that would appear to lead in one direction before there’s a divergence. To Twenty First Century eyes, there’s initially a homoerotic undertone to the relationship between Lawrence and his confidante and publisher, Sir Edwin Partridge who calls him “my dear”, is occasionally tactile and who claims through pursed lips to fully understand Lawrence’s position having had “a feeling” he wasn’t “the kind” who should be married. Sir Edwin is most definitely a predator, his overly confident aura, the patience with which he works on his subject and the agenda behind his icy blue eyes almost unmistakable to any twink who has been sexually harassed in a gay bar. Almost.He listens with interest to Lawrence describing his distaste at the idea of physical intimacy with his new wife. Then, as Lawrence reaches the crux of the matter - his reason for discussing it - Sir Edwin leans forward in anticipation…It’s here I realise I’ve got hold of the wrong end of the stick. But Sir Edwin hasn’t. He even finishes Lawrence’s sentence as the younger man asks his publisher to satisfy his wife. I must confess to finding this whole premise more shocking and salacious than the closeted gay affair I thought was brewing. What makes it so is the very idea that Elizabeth has no idea that Lawrence is arranging for her to lose her virginity to this older predator. And there’s no testing the water to see if it’s something Elizabeth would want. On the night of the soiree, the two men ensure Elizabeth’s glass is constantly topped up with alcohol before engineering a situation where they go to view a piece of porcelain in the bedroom, with Lawrence retreating as Sir Edwin moves in for the kill. In essence, Lawrence has arranged for his wife to be raped, doing all he can to facilitate the process. It’s all dressed up with good intentions and social niceties, but the facts make this uncomfortably brutal. It’s a cracking example of eras colliding in the most powerful way. I’m watching this for the first time in an era where there is little doubt that a crime was committed and were this to air for the first time today, an audience would cry out for justice, or for all concerned to be “cancelled”. But because it takes place at the turn of the Twentieth Century via the prism of 1972 there’s likely to be a very different outlook indeed. As of the end of this episode, it’s still unclear what the reactions of the characters and the stance of the writing will be relating to this story. I’m extremely curious to see where both of these take us next.</blockquote>

Verification: What month follows July?